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Cuadrilla Webcast

Link to the webcast is at the bottom of the page.

PROTOCOL FOR WEBCASTING OF INQUIRY (the “Protocol”)

Introduction

Cuadrilla Resources Ltd (“Cuadrilla”) proposed at the Pre Inquiry Meeting on 19 November 2015 that the public inquiry scheduled to be held by PINS commencing on 9 February 2016 in relation to the planning appeals relating to proposed shale gas exploration works at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood and related monitoring works (the “Inquiry”) should be the subject of live web transmission (“webcast”) and recorded for subsequent transmission in order to enable members of the public to observe the Inquiry. The Planning Inspectorate (“PINS”) agreed that this could take place, so long as it does not disrupt proceedings or inhibit those giving evidence in any way.

Cuadrilla have appointed an independent company to make the webcast available on the website located at www.cuadrillaplanninginquiry.co.uk and may provide a link to that web address on its primary website. Lancashire County Council will provide a link to that web address on its own website. Two fixed cameras are to be located in the main inquiry room for this purpose. One camera will be used to focus on the persons presenting and the other fixed facing in the direction of the participating parties. Cuadrilla is responsible for providing, setting up and operating the cameras. This Protocol has been produced by Cuadrilla in liaison with the Inspector to assist the conduct of the webcast and to ensure that in doing so the Cuadrilla is compliant with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Accordingly the following will apply:

Main provisions

1. The Inspector appointed to examine the appeals on behalf of the Secretary of State at the Inquiry has the discretion to request the termination or suspension of the webcast. This would include circumstances where, in her opinion, continuing to record and webcast would disrupt the proceedings, inhibit any person from giving evidence at the Inquiry or for any other reason within her discretion. Cuadrilla will terminate or suspend the webcast if instructed to do so by the Inspector.

2. Purpose of the webcast and subsequent recording

The purpose of the webcast is to provide accessibility to the proceedings and will be used for no other purpose. There will be no editing of the final recording before being made available on the website. The webcast will not form part of the evidence that is ultimately provided to the Secretary of State for his decision, so there can be no question of the webcast influencing the outcome.

3. The Inspector has the discretion to allow this to take place or to require it to cease if there are any concerns as regards disruption to the proceedings. Other people can make their own individual recordings provided they are discrete about doing so and no disruption is thereby caused and that this is authorised by the Inspector.

4. Cuadrilla acknowledges its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998. In order to comply with these obligations, Cuadrilla and PINS intend to take the steps set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 below. Cuadrilla acknowledges that recording and broadcasting of the webcast will be temporarily suspended in the event that an individual intending to provide evidence to the Inquiry indicates to the Inspector that he or she does not wish to be filmed, and throughout any adjournments during the Inquiry.

5. Cuadrilla shall display the following signs inside and outside the main inquiry room in a prominent position: “Please note that today’s Public Inquiry will be recorded, broadcast live via the internet and subsequently made available for viewing by members of the public. The broadcast will be made available at the following website address: www.cuadrillaplanninginquiry.co.uk. The recordings of the Inquiry will be made available on that website after the completion of the Inquiry and will remain available for viewing for a period of 30 days.

The Inspector will make an announcement confirming this at appropriate points during the Inquiry. Cameras will focus on parties giving evidence to the Inquiry only.

If persons giving evidence to the Inquiry do not wish the giving of their evidence to be filmed, they should inform the Inspector prior to giving evidence.

For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the data controller in relation to any personal data contained in the recording mentioned above is Cuadrilla Resources Ltd who will hold that data in accordance with the Privacy Policy accessible at www.cuadrillaresources.com/privacy-policy. The recording will be used for the purpose of providing a live online broadcast of the Inquiry and making a recording of that broadcast available for viewing by members of the public.”

6. At the start of each session of the Inquiry which is to be filmed, an announcement will be made by the Inspector to the effect that the Inquiry is being or may be webcast and that the Inspector may also terminate or suspend the webcasting of the Inquiry at her discretion. This will be confirmed by the Inspector making the following statement or a substantially similar statement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this session of the Inquiry will be broadcast live to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing by members of the public. Members of the audience will not be filmed. Persons intending to give evidence must inform me in advance if they do not wish the giving of their evidence to be recorded.”

Legal effect

This Protocol is intended to set out the practical arrangements agreed between Cuadrilla and PINS with regards to facilitating a webcast of the Inquiry. This Protocol is not intended to constitute a legally binding contract and does not confer legal rights on any person, whether under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 or otherwise.

Webcast

To view the live Webcast, please click here (this will take you to an external website)

Secondary link to the live Webcast in case there are any issues, please click here (this will take you to an external website)

To download the above webcast protocol text in PDF format click here


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